Swimming choe



2 o. F. TORBRON SWIMMING I SHOE .Filed NOV. 16, 1922 Patented apro l?, i923.,

rarest neri-CB f onrn rann 'ronnnonor nnnnenn, OKLAHOMA.

Application filed November 1S, 1922. Serial No. 601,312.

useful Improvements in Swimmingy Shoes;

and l do hereby declare the Afollowing to be a iull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in swimming devices and particularly to swimming sandals.

One object or' the invention is to kProvide a novel, simple, and cheap device ot this character which can be comfortably worn by the swimmer', and which will be light in weight.

Another object is to provide a swimming sandal having iieathering propelling Wings which are constructed and arranged to lie normally in spread position until feathered by the upward movement or" the swimmer-s foot.

A further object is to provide propelling wings of a swimming sandal which will automatically spread into operative position immediately prior to the power stroke of the swimmers foot, whereby the loss of power during a part of the stroke is obviated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparentt'rom the following description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: i

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swimming sandal made in accordance with the invention, the wings being in normal spread position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the sandal showing the wings feathered. y

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the attachment, removed from the shoe. i

Figure 4C is a section on the line 4 4 ott Figure 2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a sandal having the sole 11, and secured at its ends to the sole is a longitudinally extending flexible plate 12. Formed in this Plate, adjacent the ends thereof, are the openings 13 for the reception of the tongues 14 of the propel# ling wings l5. Each oi' the wings 15 is a 'ing a great amount of energy.

half disk and extends, with its curved side toward the outside edge of the shoe sole. The inner longer edge 16, oi each -disk is slightly bowed outwardly andr is arranged i to bear `aga1nst theacer of the plate 12, to"

cause a llexing of the plate, in a direction toward vthe sole of the sandal, when the wing is swung to extend at right angles to the sole. lt will be noted that the tongues of the two semi-disks are disposed in the openings 13, at the opposite ends ot the plate and are so arranged therein that each wing has free pivotal or swingingmovein ent without interference by the other wing.

rlhe iiexibility of the plate 12 normally urges the wings into a plane parallel with the sole of the sandal, that is in operative position, so that when the swimmer moves his foot rearwardly, in the power or propelling stroke, the wings will press against the waterand propel the swimmer. l/Vhen the swimmer draws his foot forwardly, the resistance oi the water will cause the wings to swing rearwardly on their tongues, into a position approximately parallel, and in so moving the inner curved edges 16 press against the plate 12 and iex the same, thus holding it under tension until just prior to the rearward movement of the swimmers ytoot in the power stroke, when the plate 12 will straighten out and swing the wings into laterally extended position to bear are spread at the rst instant of the power' stroke, thus kincreasingthe power, and savlllhat is claimed is: f

l, rlhe combination wit-h a swimming sandal, of a flexible strip mounted on and extending longitudinally of Athe sole or' the sandal, and toldable propelling wings movably mounted on the flexible strip and arranged to `be movedinto spread position thereby and into iolded positionby pressure et water.

2. The combination with a. swimming sandal, of aflexible strip mounted on the sole oit the sandall` and propelling wings vrnovably mounted on the ilexible vstrip and llU ptending longitudinally of the sole of the sandal, the end portions of the strip being formed with openings, and a pair of wings having tongues movably disposed in the openlngs to permitv swingingmovement of the wings.

Ll. rlfhe combination with a swimming sandal, of a flexible strip secured to the sole of the sandal and provided with openings,

and a pair of foldable Wings having tongues movably disposed in the said openings.

5. The combination with a swimming sandal, of a flexible strip secured to and extending longitudinally of the sole of the sandal and provided with openings, and a pair of foldable wings having tongues movably disposed in the said openings, the

wings being in the form of half disks, with their mutually adj aoent edge portions longitudinally and outwardly curved for engagement with the `flexible strip to flex the same when the said Wings are in inoperative position, and to be moved into spread position by the said strip.

ln testimony whereof, I aix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GRIN FRED TORBRON. Witnesses B. S. FROST, A. E.L CATHEY. 

